Stingers deployed in hunt for men behind alleged ram-raid robbery

Two men accused of a daring ram-raid style robbery have been apprehended and charged by police following a dangerous game of cat and mouse through the suburbs of Cairns.

TWO men accused of a daring ram-raid style robbery have been apprehended and charged by police following a dangerous game of cat and mouse through the suburbs of Cairns.

In the early hours of Monday morning police allege thieves targeted the TJM 4X4 Megastore at Scott St Bungalow by forcing entry to the building.

Failing to gain entry to the business police allege thieves then drove a vehicle through the sliding glass door before making off with products from the store.

“They have tried to throw rocks through the window but that has not been sufficient,” a police spokesman said.

“They have tried to enter it and then driven through the window.”

The TJM 4X4 Megastore was targeted in ram-raid style break-in on Monday morning. Picture: Supplied

Alerted to the alleged robbery, officers attempted to intercept the getaway vehicle on Ray Jones Drive in Portsmith.

However the vehicle managed to evade police.

A second intercept was set up and tyre stingers deployed at Stoney Creek in Kamerunga.

“We deployed a tyre deflation device at Stoney Creek and the vehicle has driven on for some time,” the spokesman said.

The vehicle was later intercepted after a short pursuit at Bentley Park and two men aged 31-years-old were taken into custody.

Police searched the vehicle and located cash, firearms, drugs and property linked to the shop.

“It looks like we have intercepted the car and detained two people and located property linked to the original (alleged) offence, drugs and other items,” the spokesman said.

A Manoora man has been charged with two counts each of unlawful possession of weapons, enter premises and commit indictable offence, dangerous operation of a vehicle, possessing dangerous drugs and receiving tainted property. He has been charged with one count each of authority required to possess explosives, evasion offence and receiving property.

He has been held in custody to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A Brinsmead man has been charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs and possessing drug utensils.

He is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on May 12.

According to police data 130 robbery offences have been committed in the Cairns local government area in the past year – an increase on the 90 offences recorded in the previous 12-month period. 

However skyrocketing Cairns vehicle theft remains as an area of concern for motorists and law enforcement.

A total of 104 vehicles from Gordonvale to Cairns’ northern beaches have been stolen between April 1 and 22. In March, 162 vehicles were stolen after a lull in February when 58 cars were ripped off.

Now almost one third of the way into 2022 445 cars have been stolen this year.

If the trend continues a six-year record of 782 cars set in 2021 is likely to be surpassed by the end of 2022.

Originally published as Stingers deployed in hunt for men behind alleged ram-raid robbery